General
Any experience within the sector will help and your education is not always seen as key, but will help with entry level into companies and the ultimate level you can reach. So a degree from most backgrounds is accepted although some courses have obvious links to the industry such as logistics, international transport, supply chain management, geography or business management. From here you can get taken on in a company scheme and work your way up. It is possible to gain post grad qualifications that will allow you to enter companies at a higher level and progress quicker.

Another path is to join the The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport UK (CILT(UK)) where you can gain nationally recognized professional qualifications and continue with further study in specialist areas such as Humanitarian Logistics. They also have a continuous professional development programme to help you move forward with your career.

Procurement & Supply
Degrees in relevant subjects such as supply chain management, logistics, international transport or business management can be an advantage to getting a career in the purchasing and supply management sector. The Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply is the world’s largest procurement and supply professional organisation. CIPS promotes excellence for the whole profession in purchasing and supply chain management and provides degree level education.

CIPS qualifications range from level 2 to level 7, with level 3 being the most common starting point for anyone without prior purchasing knowledge. Once you achieve your CIPS qualification through our structured study programme and combined with the evidence of your three years’ experience means you can use the letters MCIPS after your name. This is only one of the many routes into CIPS membership; others include distance learning, self-study with course books, the modular training programme, flexible learning programme and the management entry route

Relevant courses or experience might provide exemptions from certain levels or units. A small number of universities offer degree or postgraduate courses that are accredited by CIPS. See the CIPS website for further details.

Procurement & Supply element written by the Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply. Find out more at www.cips.org.